Mother courage behind Chennai organ donation

While a heart was being transported in an ambulance through a "green corridor" to save the life of a young woman on Monday, a middle-aged woman sat sobbing on a bench at the Government General Hospital in Chennai.

While a heart was being transported in an ambulance through a "green corridor" to save the life of a young woman on Monday, a middle-aged woman sat sobbing on a bench at the Government General Hospital in Chennai. (BCCL)

Behind the high-octane operation that moved the organ between two hospitals, 12km apart, in a little more than 13 minutes was this woman's loss and courage: Her 27-year-old son had died in a road accident and she had consented to donate his organs.

Behind the high-octane operation that moved the organ between two hospitals, 12km apart, in a little more than 13 minutes was this woman's loss and courage: Her 27-year-old son had died in a road accident and she had consented to donate his organs. (BCCL)

"My husband died when my son was very young. He was my only child so I gave him the best I could. Though he is no more, I am proud and content that he is alive through the lives his organs saved," she said.

"My husband died when my son was very young. He was my only child so I gave him the best I could. Though he is no more, I am proud and content that he is alive through the lives his organs saved," she said. (BCCL)

The young man, a diploma holder in electrical engineering, was looking for a job in the city. On June 11, he met with an accident and was grievously injured in the head. He was kept at Chengalpet Government Hospital and later shifted to the Government General Hospital. At 12.37am on Monday he was declared brain dead.

The young man, a diploma holder in electrical engineering, was looking for a job in the city. On June 11, he met with an accident and was grievously injured in the head. He was kept at Chengalpet Government Hospital and later shifted to the Government General Hospital. At 12.37am on Monday he was declared brain dead. (BCCL)

"I was asked to talk to his mother about organ donation, but I was not prepared for what happened later," said K Prakash, grief counsellor at the hospital. "She showed extraordinary grit and clarity in the hours that followed."

"I was asked to talk to his mother about organ donation, but I was not prepared for what happened later," said K Prakash, grief counsellor at the hospital. "She showed extraordinary grit and clarity in the hours that followed." (BCCL)

The woman, whose name can't be disclosed under organ donation privacy norms, works as a village health nurse and was aware of organ donation. "I have heard a lot about organ donation. I always thought that if something happened to me, I would want my organs to be donated. But I never thought I would be in a place where I would have to take a call on my son. But this is what he would have wanted," she said.

The woman, whose name can't be disclosed under organ donation privacy norms, works as a village health nurse and was aware of organ donation. "I have heard a lot about organ donation. I always thought that if something happened to me, I would want my organs to be donated. But I never thought I would be in a place where I would have to take a call on my son. But this is what he would have wanted," she said. (BCCL)